Why did my great grandfather enlist in the American Civil War under an alias?

My great grandfather enlisted under an alias, but later received government benefits under his real name. If the government knew the real name eventually, why use the alias for starters? He was a German immigrant, was there anti-German sentiment in the country at the time?

Asked by bochman 48 months ago Similar questions: great grandfather enlist American Civil War alias Society > story.

Similar questions: great grandfather enlist American Civil War alias.

It may have been an Americanized name Hmm, I have not read anything about why he might have done it. I suppose he could have had his name "Americanized" when he entered the country or he picked a more "American" name to ease communication, assimilation. Of course, there is the most obvious reason in that he probably signed up close to his home.

If he had been in trouble with the local law he may been trying to avoid them. After the war he pursued benefits and used his name because he did not have to deal with the local trouble. Not that it means you GGF was a felon, just saying it as a possible reason.

;) .

My guess would be his age. If you study the timeline carefully, I would bet you will find that he was underage at the time of enlistment, so he provided another name that the recruiter could claim he was not aware was false. There might have also been sentiment in his family about getting involved in the war, and the assumed name would make it easier for him to do what he felt was right without interference from his family.It might even have been (not knowing what the real name was) that the recruiter didn't want to be bothered to spell a complicated German name, and just assigned one he felt was easier.

(Ellis Island immigration officials have developed a reputation for this sort of behaviour over the years, even if it happened only rarely) .

Substitute He probably joined up as a substitute. In those days you could avoid the draft f you paid somebody else to take your place.

1 I vote with JBENZ. I think he was a substitute, too. Many people with dependents or who ran businesses hired substitutes, and many of those hired were immigrants.

I vote with JBENZ. I think he was a substitute, too. Many people with dependents or who ran businesses hired substitutes, and many of those hired were immigrants.

" "I'm looking for a history book that covers the story of American businesses/corporations during World War II. " "What's the best book about civil war?

I have letters from the war from grandfather to grandmother, are they worth anything.

I'm looking for a history book that covers the story of American businesses/corporations during World War II.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.